Device for taking multiple blood samples or the like



ay 14, 1968 A. 1.. WORRALL, JR 3,382,865

DEVICE FOR TAKING MULTIPLE BLOOD SAMPLES OR THE LIKE Filed Oct 18, 1965G I I I /6 4 r I V 22 22 24 F/e. J m

- INVENTOR ASHTON L. WORRALL .522,

By Wm A v'rys.

United States Patent 3,382,865 DEVICE FQR TAKING MULTIPLE BLOOD SAMPLESOR THE LIKE Ashton L. Worrall, In, 325 Edison-Furlong Road, Rd). 3,Doylestown, Pa. 18901 Filed Oct. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 497,309 4 Claims.(Cl. 128-4) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLGSURE A device for taking a pluralityof separate blood samples is provided and it includes a plurality ofhollow cartridges having self-sealing but puncturable ends thereonreceived in a tube larger in diameter than the cartridges. A hollowneedle sharpened at both ends engages a closed end of the tube with aportion of the needle extending outwardly of the tube and a portionextending inwardly of the tube and terminating adjacent the other end ofthe tube to puncture the individual cartridges as moved axially of thetube.

This invention relates to an article of manufacture which takes multipleblood samples from a patient wherein the patients vein is punctured onlyonce, and only one sterilized hypodermic needle and syringe are used inthe blood taking process.

Heretofore, there have been varioun types of clinical devices providedfor taking samples of human blood, but all such devices are equipped fortaking only .a single sampling of the human blood. Since in many casesmore than one sample of blood may be needed for laboratory purposes, thetechnician taking the blood samples from the patient may need more thanone sterilized hypodermic needle and other additional equipment. If moreblood samples are needed, the consecutive use of prior art devices oftenresult in undue manipulation on the part of the technician, danger anddiscomforture to the patient, danger of loss of sterilization, and apossible need for repeated punctures of the patient at, or around, thesampling point from which the blood is taken.

It is the general object of the present invention to overcome thestated, and other difiiculties, of the prior art by providing aninexpensive, practical apparatus by which a plurality of blood samplescan be taken from a patient with the need for only one puncture at thesampling point and where only one hypodermic needle and syringe areused.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a plurality ofcylindrically shaped plastic cartridges which are slidably received bythe hypodermic needle and syringe which consecutively :and independentlyfill with the flow of blood taken from the sampling point.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hypodermic needle whichnot only extends longitudinally outwardly from a syringe but is alsoextended longitudinally inwardly in the syringe. Such a needle allowsthe blood sample cartridges slidably received by the syringe to beconsecutively pierced by the longitudinally inwardly extending end. ofthe hypodermic needle.

Another object of the invention is to manufacture the blood samplecartridges with a partial vacuum therein. This enables the sample bloodtaken to flow easily into 3,382,865 Patented May 14, 1968 the lowerpressure area of the blood sample cartridges.

Another object of the invention is to construct the hypodermic needleand syringe used in the multiple blood sample device so that thehypodermic needle may be threadably removed from the syringe after theblood samples have been taken from the patient. This permits the syringeto act as a protector for the blood sample cartridges contained thereinif they need to be transported from the place the sampling was taken toa laboratory.

These and other objects of the invention which will become apparent asthe description proceeds are achieved by providing a device for takingblood samples comprising a plurality of cartridges each formed of acylindrically shaped plastic tube having a diameter of about betweenone-quarter inch and one inch and a length of about between one-halfinch and two inches; a plurality of pairs of disposable rubber-like endcaps adapted to be fitted on each end of said plastic tube to form thecomplete cartridge; a transparent, cylindrically shaped plastic guidetube having a closed end and an open end, said tube adapted to slidablyreceive at its open end, one by one, a plurality of said cartridges in asliding, complementary relationship therewith; and a surgical needle,sharpened at both ends, threadably received at about its mid-point bythe closed end of said guide tube wherein one end of said needle extendslongitudinally outwardly from the closed end of said guide tube and theother end of said needle extends longitudinally inwardly from the closedend of said guide tube thereby causing the end caps of the cartridges tobe pierced in turn by the longitudinally inwardly extending end of saidneedle when a plurality of the cartridges are slidably received by andpressed into the open end of said glass or plastic guide tube.

For a better understanding of the apparatus of the invention, referenceshould be had to the following drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of one preferred embodiment ofthe apparatus of the invention and showing the cartridges in position tobe pressed into the guide tube;

FIG. 2 is a view like FIG. 1 and illustrating the blood samplecartridges as pressed in turn into the cartridge guide tube;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the precision hypodermic needle employedin the apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view showing detailsof the cartridge tube and cap.

In the drawings, and looking particularly at FIG. 1, the numeral 10generally indicates a syringe-like body or guide tube constructed ofhigh strength transparent glass or plastic. The body 10 has an open end12 and a closed end 14. A hollow precision hypodermic needle 16, bestillustrated by FIG. 3, is adapted to be threadably received by theclosed end 14 of the body. In order to facilitate this, an internallythreaded metal ferrule (not shown), can be fused to the closed end ofthe body but the body 10 usually is made of plastic, and a metal ferruleis not always needed. A threaded sleeve is secured to the needle 16 at apoint closer to one end than the other, and the threaded sleeve isreleasably screwed into the ferrule.

The surgical needle 16 has been particularly adapted for use in theapparatus of the invention by sharpening both ends of the needle ratherthan just one end. When the needle 16 is threadably received by theclosed end of the guide tube 14, (this being best indicated in 'FIGS. 1and 2), the shorter portion of the needle -16 extends longitudinallyoutwardly from the closed end of the tube with the longer portion of theneedle extending longitudinally inwardly from the closed end of thetube, this longer portion being contained Within the guide tube 10.Guide tube and needle lengths dependent upon number of cartridgesrequired.

A plurality of blood sample cartridges 20 are adapted to be slidablyreceived in the open end of the body 10. The length of the body and theneedle received therein is usually dependent upon the number of bloodsample cartridges required for the laboratory experiments. These bloodsample cartridges 20, although they can be constructed of any suitablematerial, are best suited for use in the apparatus of the invention whenthe tube 22 is made from a high temperature resistant,cylindrically-shaped transparent plastic. Glass may also be used. Eachtube 22 is capped at each end by a disposable rubber-like diaphragm endcap 24. The caps 24 are preferably made from good quality latex or likerubber. The purpose of such a disposable end cap 24 will become evidenthereinafter.

In the manufacturing or assembly process of the blood sample cartridges20, the cartridge formed by capping the tube 22 with the end caps 24 isbrought to a negative internal pressure in any desired manner.

In the actual operation of the apparatus of the invention, the firststep in the blood Sampling process is to puncture the skin of thepatient at a point from which the blood samples are to be taken. Thispoint is usually at some readily accessible vein with the vein beingpunctured by the outwardly extending end of the needle 16. By theprocess best indicated in FIG. 2, a blood sample cartridge 20 isslidably inserted in the open end of the body until its end cap 24 ispunctured by the inwardly extending end of the needle 16. When thisoccurs, the partial vacuum within the blood sample cartridge and theblood pressure causes the blood taken from the patient to easily flowinto the lower pressure area within the blood sample cartridge.

When the first cartridge has been filled the desired amount with theblood sample, a second cartridge is pressed inwardly against the firstcartridge causing the inwardly extending end of the needle 16 topuncture the opposite end cap of the first cartridge and the leading endcap 22 of the second cartridge. In the manner hereinbefore described,the lower pressure area within the second cartridge now causes the bloodto flow therein. In a like manner, when the second cartridge is full, athird cartridge 20, if needed, is pressed inwardly against the secondcartridge causing the surgical needle to again puncture the opposite endcap of the second cartridge and the leading end cap of the thirdcartridge. It should be noted that the peripheral dimensions of eachcartridge 20 are such that the cartridge assembly slides easily into thebody 10.

This process can be repeated until three, four, or even more separateblood samples have been taken. When the desired number of samples havebeen taken, the surgical needle 16 is unscrewed and removed leaving thebody 10 containing the blood sample cartridges 20. The rubberlike capsact to close and seal themselves upon withdrawal of the needle 16. Theopen end of the guide tube 10 is usually then capped with some suitableprotective device such as a rubber stopper (not shown), permitting theentire assembly to be ready for preferably prompt transportation fromthe point of sampling to a laboratory where the separate samples takencan be separately analyzed. During this transportation process, the body10 acts as a protector for the cartridges. The removal of the bloodsample from each cartridge normally simply involves removing a cap 24and pouring out the sample.

While a certain representative embodiment and details have been shownfor the purpose of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent tothose skilled in this art that various changes and modifications may bemade therein without departing from the spirit or scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for taking a plurality of separate blood samples comprisinga plurality of cylindrically shaped plastic tubes having a diameter ofabout between one-quarter inch and one inch and a length of aboutbetween one-half inch and two inches,

a pair of self-sealing end caps fitted on the ends of each of saidplastic tubes and forming a cartridge-like enclosure therewith, saidenclosure having a sub-atmospheric pressure therein,

a transparent, cylindrically shaped elongate glass or plastic guide tubehaving a closed end and an open end, said tube being of a length andsize as to be adapted to slidably receive at its open end a plurality ofsaid plastic enclosures in sliding, concentric relationship therewith,one of said plastic tubes being at least partially received in saidguide tube and another plastic tube being in substantial alignmenttherewith, and

a hypodermic needle, sharpened at both ends, threadably engaging theclosed end of said guide tube intermediate the ends of the hypodermicneedle so that one end portion of said needle extends longitudinallyoutwardly from the closed end of said guide tube and the other endportion of said needle extends longitudinally inwardly from the closedend of said guide tube, the end portion of said needle within said guidetube extending to a point adjacent the open end of said guide tube butwithin said guide tube thereby causing each of said pair of end capsfitted on the ends of a plastic tube to be pierced in turn by thelongitudinally inwardly extending end of said needle when one and thenan additional enclosure is pushed into the open end of said glass guidetube.

2. A device for taking a plurality of separate blood samples comprisinga plurality of cylindrically shaped tubes,

a pair of self-sealing end caps fitted on the ends of each of said tubesand forming a cartridge-like enclosure therewith,

a transparent, cylindrically shaped elongate guide tube having a closedend and an open end, said tube receiving at least an axially inner andan axially outer enclosure in sliding, concentric relationshiptherewith, and

a hypodermic needle, sharpened at both ends, threadably engaging theclosed end of said guide tube intermediate the ends of the hypodermicneedle so that one end portion of said needle extends longitudinallyoutwardly from the closed end of said guide tube and the other endportion of said needle extends longitudinally inwardly from the closedend of said guide tube, the end portion of said needle within said guidetube extending to a point adjacent the open end of said guide tube butwithin said guide tube, each of said pair of end caps fitted on theaxially inner of said enclosures and the axially inner end cap of theaxially outer enclosure being pierced in turn by the longitudinallyinwardly extending end of said needle when one and then an additionalenclosure is pushed into the open end of said glass guide tube to obtainseparate blood samples in the said enclosures.

3. A device for taking a plurality of separate blood samples comprisinga plurality of cylindrically shaped tubes,

a pair of self-sealing end caps fitted on the ends of each of said tubesand forming a cartridge-like enclosure therewith,

a transparent, cylindrically shaped elongate guide tube having a closedend and an open end, said tube receiving at least an axially inner andan axially outer enclosure in sliding, concentric relationshiptherewith, and

a hypodermic needle, sharpened at both ends, engaging the closed end ofsaid guide tube intermediate the ends of the hypodermic needle so thatone end portion of said needle extends longitudinally outwardly from theclosed end of said guide tube and the other end portion of said needleextends longitudinally inwardly from the closed end of said guide tube,said axially inner enclosure being impaled on the longitudinallyinwardly extending end of said needle, which References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS Goodstein et a1 128-2181 Copen 12s-21s.1 Christakis 1282Bautista 128-2 Barr et a1. 128-2 DALTON L. TRULUCK, Primary Examiner.

